AutoRun on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide to App Management

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face situations where the device starts to discharge faster or run slower than usual. One reason for this behavior is the background activity of applications that run themselves when the phone is turned on. In the MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS, a special mechanism is responsible for this process, which is the default mechanism for many programs.

Understanding how autorun works can significantly extend the battery life of a gadget. Without control, dozens of programs can consume CPU and RAM resources even if you are not using them right now. In this article, we will discuss in detail what this feature is, how to manage it, and which applications really need to start automatically.

Optimizing the system starts with a proper setting of access rights. Disabling autoruns for instant messengers can cause notifications to delay, so it is important to approach the process selectively. Next, we will look at step-by-step instructions for different versions of firmware and analyze typical user errors when setting power consumption.

The essence of the autostart function in the shells MIUI and HyperOS

Autorun is a system feature of the Android operating system, adapted by Xiaomi developers for their needs. When you turn on your smartphone, the operating system loads the kernel and basic services. In parallel, applications with the appropriate permission initiate their background processes, which is necessary for instantaneous operation of email clients, messengers and alarms.

But many users don't realize that social networks, games, and app stores are also often listed as autoboots, waiting for commands from the server or simply taking up space in RAM. In MIUI 12, MIUI 13, and later, including HyperOS, this process is tightly controlled by security, but requires manual adjustment to the needs of a particular person.

The main problem is that when you install a new application, it often asks for auto-run permission implicitly or gets it by default, which leads to the fact that after a few months of use, the phone begins to “overgrow” with unnecessary processes, and the system has to spend battery power to keep programs that you do not use daily.

⚠️ Warning: Completely disabling auto-start for all applications will immediately cause important functions to fail, such as receiving calls in messengers or operating an alarm clock.

Effective management requires understanding the difference between system services and user applications, and while system processes are best left unchecked without deep knowledge, third-party software can and should be controlled, creating a balance between performance and functionality.

The impact of background processes on battery and performance

Every process you run is a strain on your CPU and RAM, and when you have too many auto-run applications, the device starts to run slower, you can see interface twitches, you can see a long response to touches, or you can see the body heat up in standby mode, and these are direct signs that the background is out of control.

Energy consumption is the second critical factor: applications that run in the background periodically wake up the radio module to check for updates or send geolocation data. Even if the screen is turned off, the processor continues to perform calculations, resulting in a battery charge that can be significantly lower than expected by the evening.

This is especially true in mid- and low-end models, where RAM is limited. If the Redmi Note or Poco M start to slow down, it is often the overflow of memory due to dozens of running background tasks that are problematic.

There is a direct correlation between the number of active apps and the rate of discharge. Research shows that turning off unnecessary auto-starts can increase screen time by 15-20%, especially for those who actively use navigation or games during the day.

Step-by-step: how to prohibit auto-launch applications

Auto-runs in Xiaomi smartphones are controlled through the built-in Security app. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. First, look for an icon on your desktop called Security and a green shield.

Once you start the app, go to the settings section or look for Autostart in the tool list, and you'll see the full list of programs that are allowed to run with the system, and you'll see the switches opposite each application: green means autorun is allowed, gray means no.

Importantly, in some versions of MIUI, access to these settings may be hidden in the optional menu. If you don't find the item right away, try clicking on the three dots in the top right corner or using the search inside the security application. In HyperOS, the path may look like Settings → Applications → Auto Run.

When you turn off system warnings that the app may not work properly, feel free to agree to programs that you don’t need in the background. For example, an online store or game doesn’t need to hang in memory immediately after you turn on your phone.

After making the changes, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the system to redistribute resources and finally complete processes that no longer need to start automatically, the first start after cleaning may take a little longer, but further work will become more stable.

Set up exceptions and work with notifications

Simply banning auto-runs is not enough to completely optimize. There are mechanisms in the Android ecosystem that can restart applications even after a ban, and for this, you need to set background activity limits in the battery settings of each particular application. Go to Settings → Battery → Energy Saving of applications.

Here, you can choose between three modes for each program: no limits, charge savings or hard savings. For instant messengers, where instant notifications are important, it is better to leave the "No limits" mode, but turn off autostart when the system starts. This is a fine setup that allows you to receive messages, but not load the phone when you turn on.

Also worth paying attention to is the floating window and the second space feature. Apps anchored in a floating window often ignore standard power saving restrictions. If you're multitasking, monitor the number of windows running at the same time.

For some users, the work of smart watches or fitness bracelets Mi Band is critical. In the Mi Fitness or Zepp application, you need not only to allow auto-start, but also to fix the application in memory (lock in the menu of recent applications) so that the system does not “kill” the connection process.

Specificity of work in the mode of the developer

For advanced users, there is a possibility of a deeper setup through the developer menu, to activate it, you need to click on the build number several times in the About Phone section, and after the corresponding notification appears in the settings menu, a new item will appear “Developers”.

In this section, you can find the "Background Process Limit" option, which is the default "Standard Limit" option, but it can be changed by limiting the number of background processes running simultaneously, a radical measure that is guaranteed to stop excessive activity, but can disrupt some services.

Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands allows you to control autoruns from your computer, which gives you access to hidden settings that are not available through the normal interface, but this method requires caution and understanding the structure of Android packages.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the developer menu without understanding their purpose can lead to unstable system operation or data loss.

One of the useful features for developers and advanced users is to display running services. By enabling the "Run Services" option in quick access, you can see in real time how much RAM each process takes up, and quickly close "gluttonous" applications.

Frequent problems and ways to solve them

Users often experience a situation where all autorun settings are reset after a firmware update, a standard Xiaomi security behavior designed to ensure that all features of the later code changes work, in which case you need to revisit the application list and disable the extra one.

Another common problem is the inability to disable auto-runs for Google or Xiaomi system applications, which in most cases, the system blocks such actions, since they are critical for the Play Market store, synchronizing contacts and push notifications, and attempts to disable them can lead to errors in the account.

💡

Use Do Not Disturb mode at night, but make sure that exceptions are set up for important contacts to avoid missing an urgent call, even if the messenger auto-start is disabled.

If your phone starts to behave strangely after you turn off auto-start (alarm clocks go missing, no SMS comes), try resetting your application settings. This won't delete your data, but will return all permissions to factory values. You can find this option in Settings → Applications → All Apps → Menu (three dots) → Reset application settings.

In rare cases, malware causes uncontrolled autoruns. If you notice that unknown processes are constantly active, check the device with built-in antivirus in the Security app or install a reliable antivirus from Google Play.

💡

Proper autorun configuration is a balance between autonomy and functionality, requiring an individual approach to each installed application.

Regularly reviewing installed software helps keep your smartphone clean. Remove apps you’ve stopped using, as even remote software sometimes leaves behind services trying to run. Cache cleaning and deleting residual files also contribute to overall system stability.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions